Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $880 per month in San Rafael vs $1,067 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in San Rafael vs $1,709 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,938 per month in San Rafael vs $2,351 in Mendoza, rent included.

San Rafael is about 18% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Rafael and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – San Rafael 34% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

$11.11 ARS 16.5K

-10.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.78 ARS 29.4K

$40.23 ARS 59.7K

-50.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.07 ARS 9,007

$9.65 ARS 14.3K

-37.10%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ARS 2,641

$3.75 ARS 5,571

-52.53%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ARS 1,509

$2.22 ARS 3,302

-54.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ARS 1,453

$2.00 ARS 2,967

-51.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ARS 1,516

$2.02 ARS 2,998

-49.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,289

$3.03 ARS 4,498

-49.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ARS 1,503

$1.31 ARS 1,947

-22.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 ARS 2,196

$1.50 ARS 2,231

-1.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ARS 2,112

$2.03 ARS 3,017

-30.05%

Eggs

$1.62 ARS 2,409

$2.17 ARS 3,229

-25.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.53 ARS 8,214

$11.72 ARS 17.4K

-52.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.48 ARS 11.1K

$7.59 ARS 11.3K

-1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 ARS 9,836

$9.38 ARS 13.9K

-29.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ARS 2,660

$1.98 ARS 2,937

-9.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,268

$1.53 ARS 2,273

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,272

$1.48 ARS 2,201

3.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 ARS 1,327

$2.16 ARS 3,209

-58.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ARS 1,056

$0.99 ARS 1,465

-28.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ARS 1,059

$1.01 ARS 1,505

-29.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ARS 895

$0.98 ARS 1,459

-38.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ARS 1,830

$2.64 ARS 3,920

-53.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 ARS 2,667

$2.46 ARS 3,659

-26.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 ARS 7,595

$4.86 ARS 7,223

5.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ARS 1,605

$1.98 ARS 2,942

-45.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ARS 2,467

$3.46 ARS 5,131

-52.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ARS 1,210

$0.67 ARS 999

20.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.84 ARS 28.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 ARS 617

$0.42 ARS 621

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ARS 1,505

$0.99 ARS 1,467

2.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 ARS 7,105

$5.04 ARS 7,483

-5.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ARS 1,258

$1.21 ARS 1,792

-29.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K ARS 47.4M

$32.0K ARS 47.5M

-0.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ARS 50.3M

$32.9K ARS 48.9M

2.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.5 ARS 116.6K

$77.4 ARS 114.9K

1.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.56 ARS 9,740

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

-62.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.59 ARS 23.2K

$22.17 ARS 32.9K

-29.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.63 ARS 39.5K

$27.31 ARS 40.6K

-2.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ARS 20.7K

$15.74 ARS 23.4K

-11.56%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ARS 8,795

$6.05 ARS 8,986

-2.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$104 ARS 153.8K

$101 ARS 150.7K

2.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,127 ARS 3.2M

$2,174 ARS 3.2M

-2.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.8 ARS 122.9K

$82.2 ARS 122.1K

0.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.6 ARS 115.3K

$76.5 ARS 113.7K

1.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$149 ARS 221.5K

$148 ARS 219.5K

0.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ARS 179.3K

$117 ARS 174.0K

3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 498.9K

$367 ARS 544.2K

-8.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 ARS 347.4K

$265 ARS 394.3K

-11.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 ARS 1.0M

$609 ARS 905.1K

11.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$533 ARS 790.8K

$514 ARS 763.5K

3.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,080 ARS 3.1M

$1,667 ARS 2.5M

24.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,499 ARS 2.2M

$1,095 ARS 1.6M

36.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$743 ARS 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Rafael: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in San Rafael versus $367 in Mendoza. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in San Rafael versus $40.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $249 – making San Rafael the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Rafael vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,319 per month in San Rafael and $1,601 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $880 in San Rafael and $1,067 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $104 per month in San Rafael and $101 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $880, than in Mendoza at $1,067. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Rafael – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Rafael. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mendoza makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.